Chapter 23 Tang Hui Accidentally Becomes Useful

The formation instructors spent the next hour arguing over Tang Hui’s suggestion.

Tang Hui herself sat quietly at the edge of the rehearsal plaza eating spirit melon slices someone had handed her midway through the discussion.

She considered this fair compensation for emotional labor.

“…Additional formations would reduce pressure on core assignments.”

“But reorganizing the arrays this close to the festival—”

“We are reorganizing because half the disciples are preparing for combat instead of celebration!”

Tang Hui bit into another melon slice thoughtfully.

Cultivators truly enjoyed turning every social event into warfare.

Nearby, disciples continued gathering around the damaged plaza despite repeated attempts to disperse them. Apparently watching sect authorities struggle publicly counted as premium entertainment.

Honestly, Tang Hui understood.

Luo Ming eventually wandered over and sat beside her on the stone steps overlooking the rehearsal grounds.

“You seem relaxed for someone who accidentally involved herself in sect administration.”

Tang Hui swallowed her food first before answering.

“I learned something important recently.”

“Oh?”

“If enough powerful people start arguing around you, remain seated and let them exhaust themselves naturally.”

Luo Ming laughed softly.

The sound drew several nearby female disciples into immediate distraction again.

Tang Hui remained deeply suspicious of his face.

Too effective socially.

Dangerous.

Below them, Qin Yue stood near the central formation pillars discussing revised layouts with the instructors. Unlike earlier, however, the tension surrounding the plaza had eased somewhat.

Not solved.

But redirected.

Which, in Tang Hui’s opinion, counted as progress.

Lin Qingyue emerged from the temporary medicine station nearby carrying several rolled formation diagrams beneath her arm. Loose strands of dark hair had escaped during treatment work, softening her usually composed appearance.

Gu Beichen noticed instantly.

Without a word, he stepped forward and took the heavier stack from her hands.

Natural movement.

Simple movement.

But Lin Qingyue looked briefly startled before smiling faintly.

Tang Hui watched the interaction from above with narrowed eyes.

Interesting dynami—

No.

Absolutely not.

She refused to repeat that phrase again.

Instead, Tang Hui focused properly.

The important thing was how effortless their interactions had become.

No hesitation anymore.

No awkward tension.

They simply adjusted around each other naturally now.

That was the real difference.

Romance in cultivation novels always sounded dramatic:
life-and-death devotion,
destined lovers,
heaven-defying passion.

In reality?

Half the time affection looked like quietly carrying someone’s paperwork.

Strangely comforting thought.

Luo Ming followed her gaze toward Gu Beichen and Lin Qingyue below.

“Hard to believe,” he mused, “that Beichen once frightened her badly enough to make her avoid entire pathways.”

Tang Hui snorted softly. “He approached romance like assassination.”

“Accurate.”

“Honestly, I still think he should apologize at least three more times.”

Luo Ming looked amused. “You’re very strict with him.”

Tang Hui leaned back against the stone railing.

“Men who look that intimidating should compensate society emotionally.”

“That may be the most biased thing you’ve said all week.”

Correct.

She remained completely correct.

Below them, Qin Yue finally approached after concluding discussions with the instructors.

“The revised formation proposal was accepted,” she informed them calmly.

Tang Hui blinked in surprise. “That quickly?”

“Most people prefer solutions that prevent public property destruction.”

Reasonable.

Qin Yue glanced briefly toward the increasingly calmer rehearsal plaza.

“Open participation arrays will be added,” she continued. “Pair-exclusive assignments are being reduced significantly.”

The surrounding atmosphere already reflected the change.

Earlier, disciples argued aggressively over invitations and pairings.

Now conversations had shifted toward:
which lantern formations to join,
what gifts to prepare,
and who might attend together voluntarily.

Far less hostile.

Tang Hui felt oddly satisfied watching the tension settle.

A month ago, nobody in Qingyun Sect would have asked for her opinion on anything.

Now even inner sect instructors had adopted her suggestions.

The thought landed strangely in her chest again.

Not pride exactly.

Something steadier.

Like realizing she genuinely had a place here now.

Dangerous emotion.

Tang Hui immediately distracted herself by finishing the last melon slice.

Qin Yue studied her briefly before speaking again.

“You handled the situation well.”

Tang Hui nearly looked behind herself to check whether another Tang Hui had appeared nearby.

“…Senior Sister Qin,” she said cautiously, “was that praise?”

Qin Yue’s expression remained perfectly composed.

“Yes.”

The surrounding disciples within earshot reacted with visible shock.

Apparently Qin Yue complimenting someone happened less often than heavenly tribulations.

Tang Hui herself felt mildly alarmed.

Luo Ming looked delighted by her confusion.

Unfortunately, before Tang Hui could recover properly, another disturbance erupted near the western side of the plaza.

Not violent this time.

But loud.

Several younger disciples rushed toward the central staircase while whispering excitedly.

“Someone confessed already?”

“Before the festival even starts?”

“No way—”

Tang Hui closed her eyes briefly.

Of course.

The sect stabilized for approximately fifteen minutes before romance chaos resumed.

A record, honestly.

One of the younger disciples spotted Tang Hui immediately and hurried over.

“Senior Sister Tang!” he blurted excitedly. “Senior Brother Wei just confessed publicly near the lake terrace!”

Tang Hui frowned slightly. “And?”

The disciple looked scandalized by her calmness.

“He prepared two hundred floating lanterns!”

“…That sounds expensive.”

“He also wrote poetry!”

Ah.

That explained the excitement.

Cultivators respected dramatic suffering.

The disciple lowered his voice dramatically.

“But Senior Sister Yu rejected him in front of everyone.”

The surrounding crowd instantly stirred louder.

Tang Hui winced slightly.

Public rejection during festival season?

Disaster.

Actual disaster.

Because now:

* humiliation was involved,
* witnesses existed,
* and sect gossip would spread before sunset.

Tang Hui already sensed incoming emotional fallout.

Sure enough, the disciple continued rapidly:

“And then Senior Brother Wei challenged another disciple to a duel because he thought Senior Sister Yu liked him instead—”

Tang Hui stood immediately.

“No.”

The disciple blinked. “No?”

“No duels.” Tang Hui started walking toward the staircase already. “Absolutely no romantic duels today.”

Luo Ming laughed behind her while following casually.

“You sound like a tired sect elder.”

Tang Hui pointed at the damaged rehearsal plaza around them.

“Look around! I’m trying to protect infrastructure now!”